Battle of the Barquette Locks

The Battle of the Barquette Locks occurred on 7 June 1944 during Operation Overlord in World War II. The Douve River lock at la Barquette, opposite Carentan, was one of the US 101st Airborne Division's objectives during Mission Albany, and, on 6 June 1944, US 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment colonel Howard R. Johnson collected 150 troops and captured the locks. Johnson had another 100 troops arrive to help secure the bridgehead at the Barquette Locks, establishing defensive positions.

At 12:00 PM on 7 June, the German 6th Fallschirmjaeger Regiment, commanded by Friedrich von der Heydte, launched a counterattack and attempted to take back the locks. The Germans opened the attack with mortar fire, and they proceeded to overwhelm much of the area. Colonel Johnson sent the reinforcements commander, Corporal Joseph Hartsock, to move up the riverbank and establish a defensive position at the road junction. The Americans succeeded in securing the road, and several German soldiers surrendered to the Americans. The Americans were victorious, defeating the German counterattack.